Vice-President of the National Workers Union (NWU) Danny Roberts, wants employers to satisfy certain conditions before demanding performance-based wage increases.

According to the NWU Vice-President, employers should ensure that the workers' right to union representation and collective bargaining are not stymied.

"It is not beyond the Jamaican worker to improve his level of productivity and efficiency," he said. "But the conditions must be right at the workplace where he feels a sense of belonging and a sense of participation."

Mr. Roberts was responding to a recommendation by Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Limited, Douglas Orane, that wage increases should be linked to productivity.

Mr. Orane's proposal came against the background of Jamaica's average annual labour productivity outturn which has registered -1.8 per cent over the last 30 years.

Mr. Roberts argues that there was an attempt by some companies to substitute productivity increases for negotiated wage hikes.

"We are not in a position at this point in time to make that transition," Mr. Roberts told The Gleaner.

Critical factors

He said trade unions have insisted that productivity-driven wage increases must be underpinned by a number of critical factors.

According to Mr. Roberts, worker involvement in the decision-making process is crucial.

He also said companies should display a high level of transparency and equity.